# Colour postcodes inside dots Official GBMaps guide for the classic map maker. VectorMaps has a different interface. Source: https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots-postcodes Updated: 2026-10-22 Turn your dots into coloured postcode territories with one button. The matching areas appear in your normal map key, using your coverage colours or automatically chosen colours for black outlines. There is no list to find, copy or import first. [Watch tutorial video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYR80kKLD6o) Some videos show an earlier layout. The written instructions below describe the current controls; this is a guide, not a video transcript. ![Colour postcodes inside dots — current GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/coverage-dots.png) Current controls. Select a numbered marker for its explanation. ## 1. Set up your coverage All dots and shapes already placed on the map are used, including those added through Advanced import. Check the position, sizes, colours and labels before colouring. Hiding the coverage does not remove it from this calculation. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots-postcodes#dots-postcodes--ready) ## 2. Colour postcodes Click Colour postcodes. On an uncoloured map the result appears straight away. On a map with existing territory colours you choose what to keep. This uses the shapes already on your map; it does not make another travel-service request. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots-postcodes#dots-postcodes--colour) ## 3. Add to existing Keeps every postcode that already belongs to a coloured territory, even where the new coverage overlaps it. Only uncoloured matching postcodes receive the new colours. Your existing key entries and notes stay in place. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots-postcodes#dots-postcodes--add) ## 4. Replace colouring Clears all existing territory colouring and its key entries, then colours only the matching postcodes. Areas outside the coverage become unassigned. Your circles, dots, travel areas, images, text and other map artwork stay in place. Cancel or the close button leaves everything unchanged. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots-postcodes#dots-postcodes--replace) ## 5. What counts as inside? The tool tests the representative centre of each polygon at your map’s postcode level. It colours the whole area, district or sector when that centre falls inside the coverage. A polygon may extend beyond the edge, or partly overlap the coverage without being selected. This is not a list of individual addresses or an exact clipped boundary. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots-postcodes#dots-postcodes--matching) ## 6. Colours, labels and overlaps Dot labels become the territory names; a dot without a label uses its postcode. Coloured fills are kept, and an unfilled shape uses its line colour. Black dots or outlines receive automatically chosen zone colours instead of black fills. You can change any zone colour in the map key, including choosing black yourself. Existing generated colours are reused when the same named coverage is coloured again. If shapes overlap, the first matching dot or shape takes precedence. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots-postcodes#dots-postcodes--overlap) ## 7. Undo, save and refresh the result Undo reverses the whole colouring operation in one step; Redo restores it. Save keeps the new territory colours and key. Colouring is a snapshot: moving coverage or changing its labels later does not recolour the territories automatically. Click Colour postcodes again and choose Replace colouring to rebuild just this coverage, or Add to existing to fill only uncoloured gaps. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots-postcodes#dots-postcodes--undo) ## 8. Advanced dots and shapes Advanced import has the same Colour postcodes button under Manage dots & shapes. Import your rows first; then colour from the shapes on the map. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots-postcodes#dots-postcodes--advanced) ## Related guides - [Radial Circles: distance rings](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles) - [Colour postcodes inside circles](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circle-postcodes) - [Create Dots: postcode locations](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=dots) - [Distance/Time: road-travel areas](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=travel) - [Colour postcodes inside travel areas](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=travel-postcodes) - [How to map a depot and its delivery coverage](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=coverage-recipe) - [Save, open & keep a separate copy](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=save)